124205: Does having a gastroscopy invalidate the fast?

Does having a gastroscopy invalidate the fast?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The gastroscope is a medical instrument that is inserted into
the stomach via the mouth, and is used either to take a picture of the
stomach or to take a sample for examination, or for other medical purposes,
then after the procedure is complete, the instrument is removed via the
mouth.

The scholars differed as to whether, if something reaches the
stomach, it invalidates the fast in all cases, whether it is provides
nourishment or not, or does it not invalidate the fast if it does not
provide nourishment?

Three madhhabs are of the view that the fast is broken by
everything that enters the stomach: the Maalikis, the Shaafa’is and the
Hanbalis.

Based on that, this gastroscopy does invalidate the fast.

The Hanafis agreed with them that everything that reaches the
stomach invalidates the fast, but they stipulated that it should remain in
the stomach.

Based on that, gastroscopy does not invalidate the fast,
because it does not remain in the stomach, rather it is removed once the
procedure is completed.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was of the view that the fast is not broken unless a nourishing substance
reaches the stomach. He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The more
correct view is that the fast is not broken by swallowing something that
does not provide nourishment, such as swallowing a pebble. End quote from
Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (20/528).

Based on this view, this gastroscopy does not invalidate the
fast, and this view is more likely to be the correct one, because the text
only indicates that eating and drinking spoil the fast. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn
appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then
complete your Sawm (fast) till the nightfall

[al-Baqarah 2:187].

The gastroscope is neither food nor drink, and is not akin to
food or drink, because the body does not benefit from it and is not
nourished by it.

But, if any kind of greasy substance is put on the
gastroscope to make it easier to insert it into the stomach, or some saline
solution is introduced via the gastroscope to clean it and make it easier to
take images, then the fasting person’s fast is invalidated when this
substance reaches the stomach, because the body will absorb it and be
nourished by it, so it is like food and drink.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (6/370, 371) – when explaining that everything
that reaches the stomach invalidates the fast according to the madhhab of
Imam Ahmad – : If a person has a gastroscope inserted and it reaches the
stomach, then this breaks the fast [i.e., according to the Hanbali madhhab].
But the correct view is that it does not break the fast unless there is any
grease or the like on the gastroscope that may reach the stomach via the
gastroscope. In that case it breaks the fast, and it is not permissible to
use it during an obligatory fast except in case of necessity. End quote.

In a statement of the Islamic Fiqh Council it says:

The following things are not regarded as breaking the fast: …
gastroscope if it is not accompanied by introduction of fluids (solutions)
or any other substance. End quote.

Majallat al-Majma’
(10/2/453-455).

To sum up: If the gastroscope is inserted into the stomach
without introducing any other substances, then it does not break the fast,
but if some greasy substance or anything else is introduced with it then it
does invalidate the fast.